A Celebration of Women …
is pleased to share with the Women of Our World one of Our Women held in high Esteem, a Survivor, as Leader, a Woman that rose above all odds..
… with the Spirit of a Lion and a Heart of a Lamb …
WOMAN of ACTION
Michaëlle Jean
In honor of the following announcement, A Celebration of Women, features Michaelle Jean .
It has been formally confirmed that this amazing Governor General of CANADA will be stepping down as of September 27, 2010, “normally” as referred to by Her Excellency herself. Canada and all Our Women will be sad to see this ‘powerhouse of care and love’ end her term.
In a report written in through OTTAWA BUREAU, it has been stated that Her Excellency herself replied to a Senagalese journalist question whether she will be seeking to pursue a further political career as Prime Minister.
Her reply:
” When you are a WOMAN of ACTION like me, you always want to contribute
where you can make a difference.” she answered in French.
Michaëlle Jean CC CMM COM CD FRCPSC(hon) (French pronunciation: [mika.ɛl ʒɑ̃]; born 6 September 1957) is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who is serving as the current Governor General of Canada, the 27th since that country’s confederation.
Jean is a refugee from Haiti — coming to Canada in 1968 — and was raised in the town of Thetford Mines, Quebec. After receiving a number of university degrees, Jean worked as a journalist and broadcaster for Radio-Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), as well as undertaking charity work, mostly in the field of assisting victims of domestic violence.
With her family, Jean fled Haiti in 1968 to escape the regime of dictator François Duvalier — who had tortured Jean’s philosopher father and separated him from his family for more than 30 years — and, upon arrival in Canada, the family settled first in a basement apartment in Montreal and then at Thetford Mines, Quebec.
Jean’s family hails from Haiti; she was born in Port-au-Prince, baptised at the Holy Trinity Cathedral and spent winters in that city and summers and weekends in Jacmel, her mother’s hometown.
The Catholic University of Milan,where Jean studied languages and literature.Jean received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature from the University of Montreal, and, from 1984 to 1986, taught Italian studies while completing her Master of Arts degree in comparative literature. She then went on with language and literature studies at the University of Florence, the University of Perugia, and the Catholic University of Milan. Besides French and English, Jean is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and Haitian Creole, and can read Portuguese.
Concurrent with her studies between 1979 and 1987, Jean worked at a women’s shelter, which paved the way for her establishment of a network of shelters for women and children across Canada. Madam Jean went on to explain that prior to her career as Governor General in 2005, she worked in areas including abused women, teaching and journalism.
She was in 2005 appointed as governor general by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on the recommendation of Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin, to replace Adrienne Clarkson as vicereine.
Her Excellency and Her Excellency
Queen Elizabeth II
Honourable for the duration of her viceregal tenure and life beyond; given current practice, she will be sworn in to the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada when her term as the Queen’s representative ends in 2010.
She married French-born, Canadian filmmaker Jean-Daniel Lafond, and the couple adopted as their daughter Marie-Éden, an orphaned child from Jacmel.
…with her Daughter, Marie-Eden as sworn in Sept. 27, 2005
The Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson reflected the general captivation with the new governor general in the following way:
“Here is this beautiful young Canadian of Haitian birth, with a smile that makes you catch your breath, with a bemused older husband by her side, and a daughter who literally personifies our future, and you look at them and you think: Yes, this is our great achievement, this is the Canada that Canada wants to be, this is the Canada that will ultimately make way for different cultural identities.”
Just prior to her installation as Governor General, Jeanwas granted a personal Coat of Arms that depicted her Haitian roots.In the centre of the coat of arms is a sand dollar, which is a special talisman for Michaëlle Jean. Sand dollars are marine creatures found on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada and Northern United States. The Royal Crown symbolizes the vice-regal function and service to all Canadians. Above the shield, the sea shell and broken chain allude to the famous sculpture Marron inconnu by Albert Mangonès, displayed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, depicting an escaped slave blowing a sea shell to gather and call to arms his fellow sufferers around the whole island.For Michaëlle Jean this image evokes the victory of her ancestors over barbarism and, more broadly, the call to liberty. Beside the shield are two Simbis, water spirits from Haitian culture who comfort souls, purify troubled waters and intervene with wisdom and foresight. Moreover, the Simbis’ words are enlightening and soothing.These two feminine figures symbolize the vital role played by women in advancing social justice. They are shown in front of a rock set with a palm tree, a symbol of peace in Haitian history, and a pine tree representing the natural riches of Canada. The motto Briser les solitudes, which means “Breaking down solitudes”, is at the heart of the objectives Michaëlle Jean intends to follow.
The ending of a Phenomenal Tenure…..2010
is the beginning of New Horizons for this
WOMAN of ACTION
At the request of Canada’s Prime Minister, Michaelle Jean has embarked on a Tour of Africa, and is
encouraging cultural, economic and political renewal, in part, through the
“Empowerment of Women”.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is some of her Reign’s accomplishments:
John Cotter Canadian Press KANDAHAR, Afghanistan–Governor General Michaëlle Jean paid homage to Canadian military women on International Women’s Day yesterday, and the female troops loved her for it. [ MARCH 2007].
Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean dances with a group of women during the inauguration ceremony of the Consolidated Credit Union of Magnambougou [MAY 2007]
INUVIK, NWT – They warned the Governor General not to bend her knees or she might wind up with broken legs. [2008]
Le Cayes, Haiti talking to young girls….more empowerment!
Like me, Haitian communities across Canada are overwhelmed by the magnitude of this catastrophe – Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada.In Haiti…..
Young Mothers..
Michaëlle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond
Sunday, May 29, 2011
10:00 to 11:30
Margaret Norrie McCain Hall, Noel Kinsella Auditorium
Conveying the vision of their new foundation, the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, Michaëlle Jean and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, discuss the ways in which the arts can be used to foster social harmony, civic engagement, inclusion and innovation.
Over the course of her mandate as 27th Governor General of Canada, Madame Jean and her husband, the filmmaker and philosopher Jean-Daniel Lafond, made youth one of their main priorities. Through their travels and work across Canada, they saw firsthand the power of the arts to change lives and empower youth to build better communities. Convinced of the need to maintain their commitment beyond the mandate, they created the Michaëlle Jean Foundation whose primary objective is to enable youth, particularly in underprivileged rural, urban, Aboriginal and northern communities, to use the power of the arts to become catalysts for change and actively engaged in society.
According to Michaëlle Jean, “Art is a powerful means of assembling citizens, of opening meeting spaces for dialogue that remove the borders between us. Art allows us to understand who we are, and in so doing, it helps us deepen our sense of belonging.” For Jean-Daniel Lafond, “In all its forms, culture reminds us of our duty to build a better and more just world. Faced with increasing barbarism, it offers us a powerful weapon of mass construction.”
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean made human rights, citizen participation, global solidarity and inclusiveness, her priorities as 27th Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada (2005-2010) and before that as a widely respected, award-winning journalist and news anchor. This same passion drives her work today as UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti and Co-President of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation.
Her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, a former philosophy professor, is a recognized filmmaker, whose award-winning films in Canada (Gemini) and abroad provoke thought and sometimes controversy. A prolific writer, he has authored several books, films and radio plays. His deep faith in the transformative power of culture is the linchpin of his artistic work. It also was the impetus for his work with his wife during her tenure as Governor General. He is co-founder of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, where he is Co-President and CEO.
Copyright 2022 @ A Celebration of Women™ The World Hub for Women Leaders That Care
WOMAN of ACTION – Michaëlle Jean
November 16, 2011 by
